Jacob Troubahttp://usahockeymagazine.com/taxonomy/term/989/all
enYouth Movementhttp://usahockeymagazine.com/article/youth-movement
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-subhead">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Four teenagers among 48 named to preliminary U.S. Olympic roster </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-author-ref">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<div class="field-label-inline-first">
By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/ryan-satkowiak">Ryan Satkowiak</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-content">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<p><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/youngins.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-preview " width="525" height="275" /></span></p>
<p>For most 18- or 19-year-old kids, the end of August is typically a time for the mass migration to college campuses, a sort of introductory phase to life outside of mom and dad&rsquo;s house.</p>
<p>For Alex Galchenyuk, John Gibson, Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba, the end of August brings an introduction of a different kind: an introduction to the U.S. Olympic Team.</p>
<p>The four teenagers are part of the American&rsquo;s 46-man preliminary roster for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, announced by USA Hockey on Monday.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While the August orientation camp will be the youngsters&rsquo; first taste of Olympic experience, it will not be their first tango in international competition with Team USA. Galchenyuk, Gibson and Trouba won a bronze medal at the IIHF World Championship in May, while all four of them won gold with the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2013 World Junior Championship earlier this year.</p>
<p>&ldquo;They continue to have success at whatever level we can test them,&rdquo; said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of Hockey Operations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Part of this is getting them to that next level. Obviously this camp is not on ice, but just this past year, Galchenyuk, Gibson and Trouba, because they had the opportunity, played well at the World Championship and were good players.&nbsp;</p>
<p>MORE: <a href="http://olympics.usahockey.com/page/show/844350-camp-roster" target="_blank">Entire 46-man preliminary roster</a></p>
<p>&ldquo;So is just another setting, albeit off ice, getting them around the players that are going to be the makeup and core of our teams in the future, whether it happens sooner or later, they&rsquo;re part of USA&rsquo;s future without a doubt.&rdquo;</p>
<p>USA general manager David Poile said the inclusion of some these players is both a reward for their great seasons both at home and in international competition and a look ahead to the future.</p>
<p>"Obviously we have our eye on 2014, but I think we're looking toward the future," he said. "We're trying to reward success. They're certainly a part of the future [of USA Hockey] and we wanted that component."</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, then-general manager Brian Burke wanted to shape Team USA in the mold of a well-rounded hockey team, not simply a cast of all stars.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">That approach worked well. The Americans made it to the gold-medal game, where they fell in overtime to Canada. This time around, the U.S. National Team Advisory Group, headed by Poile, will take a similar approach and hope a return to the gold-medal game is in order.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&ldquo;We look for a lot of versatility in our lineup,&rdquo; Johannson said. &ldquo;It could be as simple as this guy can absolutely kill penalties and really help us, so no matter what he can do that and whatever else he can bring to the team, great. I think a part of that is to specialize the team a bit. But you have to look at how you&rsquo;re going to play guys and who&rsquo;s going to play with who.&rdquo;</p>
<p>There will be no on-ice participation at August&rsquo;s orientation camp. Rather, the camp is about getting the players brought up to speed on everything that&rsquo;s going to surround Sochi. They will get into the United States Olympic Committee&rsquo;s game registration and doping programs.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Everything is done as if they&rsquo;ve all already made the team, Johannson said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since there is no evaluation process that goes on at the camp, the players are evaluated throughout the hockey season with their respective teams.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The advisory committee, headed by Poile, Burke, Johannson and Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero, will meet in-person several times leading up to the Olympics, but will be in constant communication throughout the year.</p>
<p>&ldquo;The group as a whole will be watching the players, especially through October, November and December,&rdquo; Johannson said. &ldquo;I estimate our roster announcement somewhere around Jan. 1 again this year.&rdquo;</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-thumbnail">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/youngins.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-thumbnail " width="100" height="52" /></span></p>
<div class="image-clear"></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
http://usahockeymagazine.com/article/youth-movement#comments2014 OlympicsAlex GalchenyukJacob TroubaJohn GibsonRussiaSeth JonesSochiOnline Bonus ContentMon, 22 Jul 2013 20:19:36 +0000harryt8922 at http://usahockeymagazine.comU.S. Rests World Junior Hopes On Returneeshttp://usahockeymagazine.com/article/us-rests-world-junior-hopes-returnees
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-subhead">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
USA Hockey Announces National Junior Team Preliminary Roster </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-author-ref">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<div class="field-label-inline-first">
By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/justin-felisko">Justin Felisko</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-content">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<p><span class="inline inline-middle"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.net/sites/default/files/images/Gibson_0.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-preview " width="525" height="387" /></span></p>
<p>A year after a disappointing seventh-place finish at the IIHF 2012 World Junior Championships, USA Hockey has retooled for this year's tournament in Ufa, Russia with a new group of players ready to take on some of the world's best.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, <a href="http://usahockey.cachefly.net/Media/WJC/2013/2013_WJC_PreliminaryRoster.pdf" target="_blank">USA Hockey announced its preliminary roster</a> that will attend training camp on Dec. 16-18 at the New York Rangers' Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, N.Y. The 27 players will then attend camp in Helsinki, Finland before the final 23-man roster is announced on Dec. 23.</p>
<p>"We want to give the players an opportunity to show themselves in New York and Helsinki," said head coach Phil Housley. "You have to earn your spot. Nothing is ever given and that creates a lot of fire and competitiveness, which we're going to have to have going into this tournament."</p>
<p>The U.S. roster will feature three goalies, seven defensemen and 13 forwards when the squad faces off against Germany on Dec. 27.</p>
<p>As the 27 players, including 24 NHL draft picks, compete to make the final roster there will be three players that Housley and Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2013 U.S. National Junior Team, can rely upon to provide this year's squad with leadership and wisdom.</p>
<p>J.T. Miller, (University of Michigan/CCHA), John Gibson (Kitchener Rangers/OHL) and Jacob Trouba (Connecticut Whale/AHL) all were members of last year's squad, and Housley believes those players will take the ice with an edge.</p>
<p>"They've been through it. They've been through the grind," Housley said. "They know how difficult it can be. I think they want to improve upon their play of last year. Sort of a little bit of a redemption thing."</p>
<p>Miller scored two goals in last year's tournament, both on the power play, and the 2011 first round pick (15<sup>th</sup> overall) of the N.Y. Rangers is the only player on the preliminary roster currently playing professionally. He has two goals and six assists in 20 games for the Whale.</p>
<p>The East Palenstine, Ohio native has made strides since making the jump to the American Hockey League, but Housley was also impressed by Miller's leadership role during the National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., this summer.</p>
<p>"Miller has been great in Lake Placid and is coming into a leadership role now," Housley said. "He is going to have to be one of those character guys that picks up our team when we face adversity or keep them calm when we are playing well."</p>
<p>Currently, Gibson is having a solid season for Kitchener with 12 wins, a .932 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average. Last year he allowed four goals in his only appearance against. The 2011 second round pick (39<sup>th</sup> overall) of the Anaheim Ducks<a href="http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/tall-order" target="_blank"> led the U.S. to the title at the 2010 World 17-Under Challenge</a>.</p>
<p>"It's also great to have a goaltender with international experience," Housley said.</p>
<p>"He has seen the speed and pace of the game. That is really important going into this tournament."</p>
<p>Trouba, the 2012 first round draft pick (ninth overall) of the Winnipeg Jets, has been a staple point on the Wolverine blue line this season with four goals and six assists. The 6-foot-1 defenseman registered two assists during last year's World Junior Championships.</p>
<p>Johannson said USA Hockey organized this year's squad primarily based on speed, skating, size and grit which will be necessarily to succeed come tournament time; many qualities that can be found in the three returners from last year.</p>
<p>"In the end this tournament is about playing six or seven games, and for us this year, in 10 nights," Johannson said. "You have to build a team that can survive that type of schedule and secondly thrive at the end where you all want to get to. You better be big and strong with some skill at the end because that's what you're going to play against."</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-thumbnail">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://ushockeymagazine.net/sites/default/files/images/WorldJuniors13logo.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-thumbnail " width="64" height="100" /></span></p>
<div class="image-clear"></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
http://usahockeymagazine.com/article/us-rests-world-junior-hopes-returnees#commentsIIHFJacob TroubaJohn Gibsonjt millerphil housleyUSA Hockeyworld juniorsOnline Bonus ContentTue, 04 Dec 2012 22:53:05 +0000jfelisko7731 at http://usahockeymagazine.comSix American-born Players Selected in First Round of 2012 NHL Drafthttp://usahockeymagazine.com/article/six-american-born-players-selected-first-round-2012-nhl-draft
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-subhead">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Galchenyuk, Trouba, Schmaltz highlight talented group of American draft picks </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-nodereference field-field-author-ref">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<div class="field-label-inline-first">
By:&nbsp;</div>
<a href="/author/justin-felisko">Justin Felisko</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-content">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<p><span class="inline inline-none"><img src="http://www.ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/Galchenyuk.preview.jpg" alt="NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (L) poses with Alex Galchenyuk (4th R), third overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens and Canadiens representatives on stage during Round One of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)" title="NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (L) poses with Alex Galchenyuk (4th R), third overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens and Canadiens representatives on stage during Round One of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)" class="image image-preview " width="525" height="359" /><span class="caption" style="width: 523px;">NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (L) poses with Alex Galchenyuk (4th R), third overall pick by the Montreal Canadiens and Canadiens representatives on stage during Round One of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)</span></span></p>
<p>Alex Galchenyuk, Jacob Trouba and Jordan Schmaltz highlighted six American-born players selected during the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft Friday night at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?cat=1&amp;dpid=10193&amp;sort=finalRank&amp;year=2012">Galchenyuk</a> was the first American off the board after the Montreal Canadiens selected him with the third overall pick.</p>
<p>The Milwaukee, Wis. native spent most of his life playing oversees in Europe due to his father's own playing career, but Alex Jr. spent the last two years playing for Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League. After posting a phenomenal 31 goals and 52 assists during his rookie year, the six-foot center missed all but two regular season and six postseason games this season after tearing his ACL in the Sting's second to final preseason game.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The other Americans selected on Friday night were as followed: Trouba (No. 9 Winnipeg), Jordan Schmaltz (No. 25 St. Louis), Henrik Samuelsson (No. 27 Phoenix), Brady Skjei (No. 28 New York Rangers) and Stefan Matteau (No. 29 New Jersey). &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usahockey.com/NHL/2012DraftRelease.aspx">Click here for a complete list of the 55 American players selected in the 2012 NHL Draft.</a></p>
<p>Galchenyuk is also the highest drafted American in Montreal Canadiens' history. The previous highest American drafted by Montreal was when the franchise selected Michael Komisarek seventh overall in 2001.</p>
<p>"I was in my own zone walking down the stairs and up to the stage," <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=10198">Galchenyuk wrote on his NHL.com blog.</a> "It was just an unbelievable feeling. My heart was racing. I think the Commissioner said something to me, probably something like welcome to the NHL and good job, but I don't really remember -- I was too excited."</p>
<p>"Pulling that jersey over my head was unbelievable," he added. "They have the most tradition of any team in the NHL, they have the most Stanley Cups."</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://www.ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/Trouba.img_assist_custom-280x421.jpg" alt="(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)" title="(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)" class="image image-img_assist_custom-280x421 " width="280" height="421" /><span class="caption" style="width: 278px;">(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)</span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?cat=1&amp;dpid=10695&amp;sort=finalRank&amp;year=2012">Trouba</a>, ranked as the top American defensemen by NHL Central Scouting, was the first U.S. blue liner taken Friday night at nine overall by the Winnipeg Jets. Trouba, a Rochester, MI. native had nine goals and 22 assists with the National Team Development Program.</p>
<p>"I know they were pretty excited last year to get a team back," <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2012/06/23/sp-nhl-winnipeg-jets-mark-draft-jacob-trouba.html">Trouba told the Canadian Press about the Winnipeg fans</a>. "They're a great hockey city and have been in the past...I'm excited to be a Jet." &nbsp;</p>
<p>The 6-foot-2, 193-pound defensemen will play at Michigan in the fall and has developed into a two-way defenseman similar to Adam Foote. Yet, he knows he still has work to do to acheive his ultimate goal.</p>
<p>"You've got to realize that it's only the first step," Trouba said. "You're not really accomplishing anything getting drafted by Winnipeg. My goal is to play in the NHL and play in Winnipeg."</p>
<p>At pick No. 25, the St. Louis Blues drafted the Madison, Wis. native <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?cat=1&amp;dpid=10607&amp;sort=finalRank&amp;year=2012">Schmaltz</a>. &nbsp;The defensemen was the first player since the 1994-95 season to be named to the All-USHL First Team in consecutive seasons after notching 10 goals and 31 assists in 55 games between the Green Bay Gamblers and the Sioux City Musketeers.</p>
<p>"It's awesome. I can't really explain," Schmaltz said. "It's just a great feeling to hear your named called. It's pretty surreal."</p>
<p>Samuelsson, Skjei and Matteau went back-to-back-to-back at picks 27-29 respectively.</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://www.ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/Samuelsson.img_assist_custom-280x421.jpg" alt="(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)" title="(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)" class="image image-img_assist_custom-280x421 " width="280" height="421" /><span class="caption" style="width: 278px;">(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)</span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?cat=1&amp;dpid=10601&amp;sort=finalRank&amp;year=2012">Samuelsson</a>, born in Scottsdale, returns home to Arizona with the Phoenix Coyotes after posting seven goals and 16 assists for Edmonton of the Western Hockey League. &nbsp;In 2010-11 the center played in 27 games for the United States U-17 squad.</p>
<p>The right wing's father, Ulf, was drafted 67th overall in 1982 by Hartford and went on to play in 1,080 NHL games for five teams and Henrik's brother Philip was drafted 61st overall in 2009 by Pittsburgh and played most of the 2011-12 season in the AHL for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?cat=1&amp;dpid=10636&amp;sort=finalRank&amp;year=2012">Skjei</a> joins the Rangers organization after leading the U.S. National Team Development Program to a gold medal at the Under-18 World Championship with a plus-10 rating. He had four goals and 18 assists with his American teammates in the USHL this year.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-3 defenseman plans on playing at the University of Minnesota come the fall. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Matteau, the son of former NHL veteran Stephane Matteau, arrives to the defending Eastern Conference champion Devils with 15 goals and 17 assists in the U.S. National Development Team Program. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The center led the U.S. to a silver medal at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with six points (2-4-6) in six games.</p>
<p>All six draft picks have been invited to the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp this August in Lake Placid, N.Y. &nbsp;</p>
<p>You can catch the rest of the 2012 NHL draft Saturday, rounds 2-7, on NHL Network starting at 10:00 a.m. ET.</p>
<p><strong>Notebook:</strong> Brian Dumoulin was part of a blockbuster draft night trade between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes involving Jordan Staal and Brandon Sutter. Dumoulin heads to Pittsburgh after winning a bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Championships. He scored seven goals and notched 21 assists for the Boston College Eagles this year.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-article-thumbnail">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://www.ushockeymagazine.com/sites/default/files/images/Draft_Thumb.thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-thumbnail " width="100" height="100" /></span></p>
<div class="image-clear"></div> </div>
</div>
</div>
http://usahockeymagazine.com/article/six-american-born-players-selected-first-round-2012-nhl-draft#comments2012 NHL draftAlex GalchenyukBrady SkjeiHenrik SamuelssonJacob TroubaJordanSchmaltzStefan MatteauOnline Bonus ContentSat, 23 Jun 2012 03:41:50 +0000jfelisko7135 at http://usahockeymagazine.com